Spain retain Davis Cup

Tuesday 6 January 2009 00:12 BST

Spain have retained the Davis Cup with Saturday's doubles victory in Barcelona earning an unassailable 3-0 lead over the Czech Republic.

After singles wins for Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer on Friday - the latter after coming from two sets and a break down to beat Radek Stepanek - Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez teamed up to beat Stepanek and Tomas Berdych 7-6 (9/7) 7-5 6-2.

The triumph prompted scenes of jubilation, Verdasco and Lopez collapsing to the court before joining their team-mates in a victory huddle.

The first two sets were extremely close but it was the hosts who had the edge at the Palau Sant Jordi, and they ran away with it in the third as the Czech pair realised the game was up.

Spain are the first country since Sweden in 1998 to successfully defend the trophy, and Lopez said: "To win the Davis Cup is always a special feeling at home and even more than last year in Argentina.

"The key was we played a great game. We never doubted for one minute."

Spanish captain Albert Costa, who won the cup as a player in 2000, has tipped his team to continue their domination of the competition.

"I don't think this team has any limits," he said. "The only worry we can have is maybe motivation."